Sociolect theorists Flashcards
What was Ives’ study?
BAE in Bradford
What did Ives explore?
The use of code switching in 8 teenage boys
What were the two main responses as to why the boys code switched in the Bradford study?
- Because they didn’t want people to understand what they were saying (to exclude)
- Because they wanted to separate themselves from “freshies”
Who are “freshies”?
People who were born in Pakistan but then moved to England
What does Ives say language depended on?
Postcode
What words were used the most in the school in Bradford?
Taboo lexis and Punjabi, often a mix of the two
What were the 4 influences on the teen’s language in Ives’ study?
- Pop culture
- The area/postcode
- Being born in England
- Age
What does language do to society and identity?
Language shapes and reflects society and identity
Where was Cheshire’s study and what group of people did it surround?
- Reading
- Teens
What did 2 things did Cheshire explore?
Peer group culture and the use of non standard forms
In the Reading study, who was more likely to use non standard forms?
Boys who agreed with criminal behaviour
What does Cheshire’s study suggest about dialect variation?
Dialect variation is a conscious choice
Where was Kerswill’s study and what group of people did it surround?
- Milton Keynes
- Teens
Why did Kerswill choose Milton Keynes?
- New town, so lots of dialect mixing
What did Kerswill find in parents and children?
- Lots of language variation in parents
- Less language variation in children
What is dialect levelling and who created this concept?
- When dialects mix and eventually become less distinguished
- Kerswill
Where was McCafferty’s study and what group of people did it surround?
- Londonderry
- Catholics/Protestants
How did McCafferty describe ethnicity?
Ethnicity = religion
What accent did Catholics and Protestants prefer in the Londonderry study?
They preferred Northern Irish to RP
What accent did Middle and Working class Catholics prefer?
They preferred Londonderry’s non standard forms
What accent did Middle class Protestants prefer?
They preferred Northern Irish non standard forms
Quote Macaulay
“The accent of the lowest state of Glaswegian is the ugliest… it is associated with the unwashed and the violent”
What did Macaulay find?
That the use of glottal stops decreased with age
What was the usage of glottal stops by the female upper class at 15 years old compared to adulthood?
- 93% at 15
- 60% at adulthood
